Investigators reveal cause of Orrington quadruple fatal fire

The State Fire Marshal's Office said empty cardboard boxes stored too close to a wood stove started the fatal fire in Orrington over the weekend that killed a father and his three young children.

Autopsies determined Benjamin Johnson 30, his sons Ben, 9, Ryan, 4, and daughter Leslie, 8, died from smoke inhalation. The bodies of the children were found on the floor of a second story bedroom and the father's body was found at the head of the stairs, also on the second floor.

Christine Johnson, 31, survived the fire and is recovering in the hospital.

Fire investigators said the home was heated with the wood stove and a propane heater insert in the fireplace, as the furnace was not working.

The family had returned from a night of bowling Friday night and then started the stove, located on a first floor living room, investigators said.

The boxes were within inches of the stove and were likely used to help ignite kindling when the wood stove was started. Also found near the wood stove was a container of lighter fluid, which likely helped spread the fire once the cardboard boxes ignited.

Neighbors and firefighters reported not hearing any working smoke detectors in the house.

State Fire Marshal Joe Thomas said combustible items should be kept three feet away from any wood stove and flammable liquid should never be used to start a wood stove fire.

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